Caladium plant named ‘Sweet Carolina’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Caladium  plant named ‘Sweet Carolina’, characterized by its upright plant habit; tall plant size; uniform plant habit; vigorous and dense growth habit; fancy-type leaves with greyed purple-colored venation, random red purple-colored spots and mottled light and dark green-colored interveinal areas; and good landscape performance.

Botanical designation: Caladium×hortulanum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SWEET CAROLINA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Caladium plant, botanically known as Caladium×hortulanum, commercially referred to as a fancy leaf-type Caladium and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sweet Carolina’.

The objective of the Inventor's breeding program is to create new Caladium plants that have uniform plant habit, exceptional container and garden performance and attractive foliage coloration.

The new Caladium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in June, 2002 in Lake Placid, Fla. of Caladium×hortulanum ‘Grey Ghost’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Caladium×hortulanum ‘Miss Muffet’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Caladium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Lake Placid, Fla. on Jun. 15, 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Caladium plant by ‘chipping’ the tubers (cutting the tuber into segments each segment containing an axillary bud and tuber cortical tissue) in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Lake Placid, Fla. since Apr. 15, 2004 has shown that the unique features of this new Caladium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sweet Carolina’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sweet Carolina’ as a new and distinct Caladium plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; tall plant size.     -   2. Uniform plant habit.     -   3. Vigorous and dense growth habit.     -   4. Fancy-type leaves with greyed purple-colored venation, random         red purple-colored spots and mottled light and dark         green-colored interveinal areas.     -   5. Good landscape performance and tolerant to full sun         conditions.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘Grey Ghost’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are taller than plants of ‘Grey         Ghost’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Grey Ghost’ differ in leaf         coloration as leaves of plants of ‘Grey Ghost’ have white to         grey white-colored venation and interveinal areas with         green-colored borders.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the male parent, ‘Miss Muffet’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium are taller than plants of ‘Miss         Muffet’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium are broader than leaves         of plants of ‘Miss Muffet’.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Miss Muffet’ differ in leaf         coloration as leaves of plants of ‘Miss Muffet’ have red-colored         venation, lime green interveinal areas and red-colored spots.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of Caladium ‘Raspberry Moon’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,069. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Avon Park, Fla., plants of the new Caladium differed primarily from plants of ‘Raspberry Moon’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium were taller and more vigorous than         plants of ‘Raspberry Moon’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Caladium were more rounded than         and not as undulate as leaves of plants of ‘Raspberry Moon’.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Raspberry Moon’ differed in         leaf coloration as leaves of plants of ‘Raspberry Moon’ were         light green in color with random dark green and red-colored         spots and splotches.

Plants of the new Caladium can also be compared to plants of Caladium ‘Aaron’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Avon Park, Fla., plants of the new Caladium differed primarily from plants of ‘Aaron’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium were taller than plants of         ‘Aaron’.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium grew faster than plants of         ‘Aaron’.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Aaron’ differed in leaf         coloration as leaves of plants of ‘Aaron’ have white-colored         venation and radiating interveinal areas surrounded with         green-colored borders.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Caladium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Caladium plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Sweet Carolina’ grown in a 15-cm container in a shadehouse.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a top perspective view of typical plants of ‘Sweet Carolina’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of typical freshly-harvested tubers and roots of ‘Sweet Carolina’.

The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of typical inflorescences of ‘Sweet Carolina’.

The photograph at the top of the fourth sheet is a comparison view of typical potted plants of the female parent, ‘Grey Ghost’ (left) and ‘Sweet Carolina’ (right).

The photograph at the bottom of the fourth sheet is a side perspective view of a typical potted plant of the male parent, ‘Miss Muffet’.

The photograph at the top of the fifth sheet is a side perspective view of a typical potted plant of ‘Raspberry Moon’.

The photograph at the bottom of the fifth sheet is a side perspective view of a typical potted plant of ‘Aaron’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring in 15-cm containers in Avon Park, Fla. in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse (30% shade) and plants grown during the summer in ground beds in an outdoor nursery in Zolfo Springs, Fla. All plants were grown under environmental conditions and cultural practices which approximate those generally used in commercial shadehouse and outdoor nursery Caladium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 28° C. to 33° C. (shadehouse) or 29° C. to 35° C. (outdoor nursery), night temperatures ranged from about 22° C. to 25° C. (shadehouse) or 23° C. to 26° C. (outdoor nursery) and light levels were about 8,000 foot-candles (shadehouse) or 10,000 to 12,000 foot-candles (outdoor nursery). Plants grown in the shadehouse were seven weeks old when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. Plants grown in the outdoor nursery were six months old when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Caladium×hortulanum ‘Sweet Carolina’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘Grey Ghost’,             not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘Miss Muffet’,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By “chipping” the tubers.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at             32° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at             24° C.         -   Tuber description (outdoor nursery-grown             plants).—Appearance: Multi-segmented; individual segments             relatively large and elliptic in shape. Height: About             3.3 cm. Diameter: About 5.5 cm. Texture: Thick and starchy;             somewhat brittle. Color: Epidermis, freshly harvested, close             to 199A; epidermis, dried tuber, close to 200C to 200D;             interior, close to 5C; axillary buds, close to 155D. Root             description: Thick, fleshy contractile roots; color, close             to 155D. Rooting habit: Few lateral branches; moderately             dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial; suitable as a potted plant             in containers 15-cm to 25-cm and suitable as a landscape             plant in shaded and full sun areas.         -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and mounding plant habit;             tall plant size; inverted triangle; vigorous and dense             growth habit; rapid growth rate; petioles and leaves arise             from one or more growing points on tubers; petioles mostly             upright and slightly leaning outwardly with development.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of foliar plane,             shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 30 cm.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of inflorescences,             shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 37.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread, shadehouse-grown potted             plants.—About 38 cm.         -   Number of clumps per plant, shadehouse-grown potted             plants.—About six from de-eyed tubers.         -   Cataphylls, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—Length: About             11 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Shape: Lanceolate to elliptic.             Apex: Acuminate. Base: Sheathing the stem. Color, outer             surface: Close to 147C and N170D streaked, stippled and             tessellated with close to N186A; with development, color             becoming closer to 200A tinged with close to 187C. Color,             inner surface: Lighter than 170D streaked with close to             N186A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Length, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 20 cm.         -   Width, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 15.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate to cuspidate.         -   Base.—Sagittate, peltate.         -   Margin.—Entire; mostly flat with some broad undulations.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glaucous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—Developing leaves,             upper surface: Basal notch: Close to 60A to 60B. Petiole             attachment and adjacent veins: Close to 59A to 59B. Midrib:             Close to 185A to 185B. Primary and secondary venation: Close             to 185A to 185B. Interveinal areas: Random sectors, darker             than 137A and close to 145C to 145B; random spots, close to             N57D. Margins: Close to 185A to 185B. Developing leaves,             lower surface: Basal notch: Close to 187B to 187C. Petiole             attachment and adjacent veins: Close to 147C tinged with             close to 65D. Midrib: Close to 147C tinged with close to             65D. Primary and secondary venation: Close to 147C tinged             with close to 65D. Interveinal areas: Random sectors, close             to 147A, 146A, 145C to 145D and 193C; random spots, close to             186A to 186B. Margins: Close to 145C to 145D tinged with             close to 185A to 185B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Basal notch: Close to 59A. Petiole attachment and adjacent             veins: Close to 59A. Midrib: Close to 185A. Primary and             secondary venation: Close to 185A. Interveinal areas: Random             sectors, darker than 137A and close to 145B to 145C;             flushing, close to 182A; random spots, close to 59C to 59D.             Margins: Close to 187B to 187C. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Basal notch: Close to 187B to 187C. Petiole             attachment and adjacent veins: Close to 147C tinged with             close to 65D. Midrib: Close to 147C tinged with close to             65D. Primary and secondary venation: Close to 147C tinged             with close to 65D. Interveinal areas: Random sectors, close             to 148B to 148C, N189A, N189B and N138B; random spots, close             to 186C. Margins: Close to 148C tinged on leaf edge with             close to 187B to 187C.         -   Petiole.—Aspect: Mostly erect; flexible. Length,             shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 22 cm. Diameter,             distal, shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 4 mm.             Diameter, proximal, shadehouse-grown potted plants: About             9 mm. Color, shadehouse-grown potted plants: Close to 147C             to 177C to 177D striped, streaked, stippled and tessellated             with close to N186C. Wing length, shadehouse-grown potted             plants: About 4.6 cm. Wing diameter, shadehouse-grown potted             plants: About 6 mm. Wing color, shadehouse-grown potted             plants, outer surface: Close to 147C and N170D streaked,             stippled and tessellated with close No N186A. Wing color,             shadehouse-grown potted plants, inner surface: Colors             visible from outer surface. -   Inflorescence description: Inflorescences observed on twelve-week     old shadehouse-grown potted plants.     -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Upright hooded spathes             surrounding a columnar spadix borne on a tall upright scape;             spadix with sessile, simple female and male flowers             separated into two zones; female flowers arranged on the             lower one-third of the spadix; male flowers arranged on the             upper two-thirds of the spadix; sterile flowers develop at             junction of female and male flower zones; near this             junction, the spathe constricts and surrounds and encloses             the female flowers; spathe open and cupped around male             flowers.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season/longevity.—Plants of the new             Caladium typically flower during the spring or early summer             in central Florida; flowers develop about twelve weeks after             growth commences; inflorescences last about three days             before fading; inflorescences persistent.         -   Spathe.—Length: About 13.5 cm; upper open length, about 9 cm             and lower closed length, about 4.5 cm. Width, distal: About             4.2 cm. Width, proximal: About 3.9 cm. Width, at             constriction: About 1.3 cm. Shape: Ovate to elliptic. Apex:             Acuminate. Base: Tapering to the peduncle. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             front surface, when opening: Upper two-thirds: Close to 155C             and 145C to 145D. Lower one-third: Close to 148B to 148C             darkly flushed with close to N77A. Color, front surface,             fully opened: Upper two-thirds: Close to 155D; with             development, color becoming closer to 27D and 173C. Lower             one-third: Close to 148B darkly flushed with close to N77A;             with development, color becoming closer to 147B. Color, rear             surface, when opening: Upper two-thirds: Close to 158C to             158D tinged with close to 165B. Lower one-third: Close to             147B. Color, rear surface, fully opened: Upper two-thirds:             Close to 158D tinged with close to 70D. Lower one-third:             Close to 147B.         -   Spadix.—Length: About 9.8 cm. Length, male flower zone:             About 6.2 cm. Length, sterile flower zone: About 1.4 cm.             Length, female flower zone: About 2.2 cm. Diameter, male             flower zone: About 1.1 cm. Diameter, sterile flower zone:             About 6 mm. Diameter, female flower zone: About 1.1 cm.             Shape: Columnar. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Obtuse. Aspect:             Upright. Color, immature, male zone: Close to 155D. Color,             immature, sterile zone: Close to 155D. Color, immature,             female zone: Close to 158D. Color, mature, male zone: Close             to 155D. Color, mature, sterile zone: Close to 155D. Color,             mature, female zone: Close to 16D. Male flowers: Quantity             per spadix: About 150. Shape: Obovate. Height: About 4 mm.             Diameter: About 4 mm. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color:             Close to 12D. Female flowers: Quantity per spadix: About 90.             Shape: Ovate to elliptic. Height: About 3 mm. Diameter:             About 3 mm. Stigma color: Close to 16C to 16D. Ovary color:             Close to 16D.         -   Scape.—Length: About 32 cm. Diameter: About 7.5 mm.             Strength: Sturdy; flexible. Aspect: Erect. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous; glaucous. Color: Close to 147C and 177C to 177D             striped and streaked with close to N186C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Caladium. -   Disease & pest tolerance/resistance: Plants of the new Caladium have     been observed to have above average tolerance to Xanthomonas Leaf     Spot and average tolerance to Pythium Root Rot. Plants of the new     Caladium have not been observed to have resistance to pests and     other pathogens common to Caladium plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed     to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to about     40° C. and suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8A to 11. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Caladium plant named ‘Sweet Carolina’ as illustrated and described. 